Thurman Goes The Distance Again; Reyes, Crumlich Tie Career-Bests

Tommy Reys was 4 for 4 with 3 RBI

Apr 27, 2012

IRVINE, Calif. ---Andrew Thurman put in another stellar performance on the mound and Tommy Reyes had a perfect day at the plate as UC Irvine snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-2 win over UC Riverside Friday at Anteater Ballpark.

Thurman yielded two early runs (one earned) and then shut down the Highlanders the rest of the way to toss his second consecutive complete game and improve to 5-2. The right-hander walked one and struck out six to win the duel against UCR starter Dylan Stuart.

D.J. Crumlich and Reyes, UCI's No. 1 and 2 hitters combined for seven of the team's 13 hits and scored six of the nine runs. Reyes posted a 4-for-4, three-RBI day at the plate, which he last recorded against Sacramento State in 2011. Crumlich had a pair of singles and a double and scored four times, tying a personal best for the shortstop, who last scored four runs in 2011 against Nevada. Taylor Sparks chipped in a pair of singles as did Jeff Stephens, who drove in a run on two hits. Connor Spencer had two RBI on a sacrifice and a single, which proved to be the game-winning run.

Highlander third baseman, Vince Gonzales, opened the scoring with a one-out single in the first to drive in Eddie Young from second. An error by the Anteaters allowed Gonzales to score, giving UC Riverside a two-run lead.

Spencer's sacrifice in the first trimmed the deficit to one and UCI claimed the lead for good in the third. Sparks and Crumlich led off the inning with consecutive singles to third. Reyes, who squared to bunt, pulled back and slashed an 0-1 pitch through the left side for a hit-and-run single that got under the glove of left-fielder Clayton Prestridge and rolled to the wall, allowing both Crumlich and Reyes to score on the error. Jordan Fox continued the inning with a single and took second on the throwing error by Young. Fox would round the bases on Spencer's RBI single to left-center.

After UCI tacked on a run in the fourth, Reyes and Stephens delivered clutch hits in the sixth and Reyes doubled in his third run of the day with a hit inside the third-base bag to cash in Crumlich's leadoff double to right-center.

Stuart fell to 4-5 with the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings. Gonzalez led UCR with an RBI on two hits.